Inner corner forming unit for a concrete wall form



Sept. 2, 1958 r QHIL R 2,849,780

INNER CORNER FORMING UNIT, FOR A CONCRETE WALL FORM Filed-May a, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 2,1958 '5'. HILLBERG INNER CORNER FORMING UNIT FOR A CONCRETE WALL FORM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1955 United States Patent INNER CORNER EGRMING FOR A CONCRETE WALL FORM Bror Hillherg, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 3, 1955, SerialNo. 505,570

3 Claims. (Cl. 25131) The present invention relates generally to wall forms. More particularly, the invention relates to that type of wall form which is designed'for use in the formation 'of'a concrete wall and comprises: (1) a series of upstanding edge to edge rectangular panels which are'formed'of plywood or other suitable material and have oppositely dis;- posed hole forming notches in the abutting side edges thereof; (2)- a second series of similar upstanding rec'- tangular panels which are disposed in opposed but spaced apartrelation with the panels of th'e'iirst series; (3) hGTir zontal-ly positioned combined tie and spreader rods which extend between and at right angles to the two series of panels andfhave the ends thereof projecting through and beyond the notch formed 'holes between the abutting side edges of the panels; and (4) removable clamping devices which are associated with the ends of-the combined *t'ie and spreader rods and serve when in place to hold the 1 panels in fixed 'relation with theends of the rods.

In connection with use-of a concrete wall form of the aforementioned type it is necessary when the wall to be formed is to have a right angle or other bend to arrange certain of the panels of one series at an angle with respect to theother panels of the-one series and correspondingl y to arrange the panels of the other series. Heretoliore, difiiculty has been experienced in positioning and connecting together the two panels that serve-to form-the inside corner of the-bend in abentwall;

-O-neobject of thisinvention is to provide in connection witha concrete wall form of the type under consideration an' insidecorner forming unit which involves a simple and novel construction andeliectively and efficiently iiulfills. its intended purpose. Generally speaking, the improvedifunit -comprises a pairi of side by side upstanding panels. and aiparticular. hinge connection whereby the two panels are connected :together so that they may be positioned relatively ate oneanother at any desiredangle between and including: 90 and I8'0.. .Amother object lot the invention is to? provide an inside comernforming unit in which the hinge connection between the two upstanding. panels comprises. a vertical serieskoftubes whichrare positioned between the adjacent or inner side edgesof the panels, have the adjoiningcnd's thereof rotatively connected together so that they are capable of turning relatively to one another,..and have horinontallypositioned radially extending brackets certain of which are connected" to certain of :the tubes' and fit against, :andare secured to; the outer face of one of the .panels andzthe .others of which are connected to the other'tubes and fit against, and :are secured to, the outer face of the other *paneL Another object of the invention lS'IO provide an inside cornenforrninginnit in which the two panels are provided with full length zangle bars certain legs of which'fitfiatly against, and are secured to,:the adjacent .side edges of the panels and the other legs of which are arranged in :00- planar relation with the inner faces of the panels, project outwards-at right angles to the adjacent side edges to the panelsg-haveth'eir outer side edges -in sliding engageice v merit with the inner side portions of the outer surfaces of the tubes of the -hinge connection, and serve as seals for preventing leakage of concrete past the hinge connection.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inside corner forming unit "of'the type and character under consideration in which 'thetubes of the hinge connection are rotatively connected together by sleeves and arefille'd with a lubricant so as to facilitate relative turning .movement thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an inside corner forming unit which is of such simple construction that it may be produced at a comparatively low cost.

Other objects of the 'invention'and the various advantagesand characteristics of thepresentinside corner forming unit will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth andare more particularly defined by the claims at the 'conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany *andforrn' apart of rlhis specificationordisclosure-and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the si-rverail' views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary horizontalsecticnof a con- .cnetewall form having as a partthereof aninside corner forming unit embodying the-invention, the 'two panels of the unit zheing positioned relatively to one another at an angle: of

Figure .Z'is an enlarged horizontal section'o'f the inside corner forming unit, illustrating .in-detailthe manner in which-the: outwardly projecting legs of the full length angle barswcoact theinner side portionseof theou'ter surfaces .o'f'lbhe tubes of. the hinge connection so :as to prevent leakage or outflow .of concrete past the hinge triinnection;v J

iFigure ,3 is afragmentary perspective of the inside corner forming unit, the panels of .theunit being shown asextending relatively to one another at a .190? angle;

figure 4 is an outside side elevation of the complete inside corner forming unit, the panels of the :unit being shown as extending relatively to one another atzan'aa-ngle of. and the ."tubesof the hinge connectionrbetween the two-panels being shown in; section for purposes, of illustration; and

Figure 5 isa fragmentary perspective of the hinge connection whereby the two panels-0f the inside :corner forming unit are-connected together so-thatthey may be positioned relatively to one another atany desired angle betweenandincludingQO and 1.803;

The inside corner forming unit which is shownin the drawings constitutes-the preferred torm orembodiment of the invention. In general, the unit comprises'a pair of-side by side upstanding panels-1'6 and 7., a hinge connection :8 between the two panels and .a' pa'ir of angle bars g9uand 10. As shown in Figure l of the drawings the-unit together \with a pair ofpanels 1-1 and 12, a series of panels 13,-, 14,- ls and 16, cornbined-tie-and spreader rods 17-.andreleasaible clampingdevices 18 .is adapted 10 provide a form tor use in the format-ion -orfabrication ofaconcrete Wall having a- :bend in it. ,As hereinafter described in more detail, the unit in connect-ion use oflthe concrete wall form as a whole .isadapted ,to .form the inside corner of the bend in the concrete wall that isqformed by way oft-he form. Normally in connection with use of the unit .the two panels 6 and Tareangularly positioned withrespect to .one another as. shown. in Figures l and '3. The amount or degree. of angularity of thepanels '6 and"? determines the character'or amount of the 'bendofthe concrete wall; The panel 1'1 isposi- -tioned-.- inedge to edge relation and alignment with the panel 6 of the inside corner forming unit and the panel 12 is in edge to edge relation and alignment with the panel 7. The four panels 13, 14, and 16 are positioned opposite to the panels 11, 6, 7 and 12, are arranged in edge to edge relation, and form a second series of panels in opposed but spaced apart relation with the first mentioned series of panels. In connection with use of the form, the panels 14-and 15 are positioned at the same angle as the panels 6 and 7 of the inside corner forming unit and are provided between their adjacent or oppositely disposed side edges with a filler strip 19 which is suitably secured in place. The combined tie and spreader rods 17 and the removable clamping devices 13 serve as well understood in the art to hold the two series of panels in fixed spaced apart relation. It is contemplated that the two series of panels will be spaced apart a distance corresponding to the desired thickness of the concrete wall to be formed therebetweeen and also that after proper positioning of the two series of panels concrete in plastic or unset form will be poured between the two series for wall forming purposes. After setting or hardening of the concrete the form is dismantled and then the projecting ends of the combined tie and spreader rods are severed or broken at points adjacent to the sides of the concrete wall. The adjacent vertical edges of the panels 14 and 13, and 15 and 16 respectively of the inside corner forming unit are preferably formed of plywood and have oppositely disposed semi-circular notches 20 formed in their abutting side edges. Each oppositely disposed pair of notches forms a circular hole 21 for receiving one end of one of the combined tie and spreader rods 9. The plywood panels 11, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are reenforced by horizontally extending boards 22 which extend across the outer faces of the panels and are secured in place in any suitable manner. The boards 22 are preferably positioned so that the imaginary longitudinal center lines thereof arein alignment with the semi-circular notches 20 in the side edges of the panels. As shown in the drawings the end edges of the reenforcing boards 22 are disposed a small distance inwards of the side edges of the panels. Each of the reenforcing boards is provided on its outer surface with a horizontally extending metallic strip 23. Such strips are located midway between the upper and lower edges of the reenforcing boards and are fixedly secured in place by way of screws 24. Certain ends of the strips 22 are bent inwards at substantially right angles so as to form elongated vertically extending open ended sockets 25 adjacent to the semi-circular notches 20.

The combined tie and spreader rods 17 extend between and at right angles to the two series of panels and are arranged so that the ends thereof project through and an appreciable distance beyond the notch-formed holes 21. The portions of the combined tie and spreader rods that are disposed inwards of the inner faces of the panels are provided with flats 26 and weakness points 27 outwards of the flats. The extremities of the rods are provided with heads 28. The removable clamping devices 18 are associated with the ends of the rods respectively. They serve to clamp the panels of the form in edge to edge relation and also to hold the panels in fixed or rigid relation with the ends of the rods 17. As shown in Figure 1 the removable clamping devices comprise brackets 29 and U-shaped locking bolts 30. The brackets 29 are horizontally elongated, extend at right angles to the panels and embody at their inner ends pairs of spaced apart depending fingers (not shown) which fit within the aforementioned elongated vertically extending open ended sockets 25. The U-shaped locking bolts 30 of the removable clamping devices 18 are slidably mounted on the inner ends on the brackets 29 and are adapted when driven in the direction of their open ends to be brought into straddled relation with the heads 28 on the extremities of the combined tie and spreader rods 17. For a more detailed description of the construction, arrangement and mode of operation of the combined tie and spreader rods 17 and the removable clamping devices 18 reference may be had to my copending United States patent application Serial No. 500,107, filed on April 8, 1955, and entitled Concrete Wall Form.

The panels 6 and 7 of the inside corner forming unit are the same in height and width, have flat inner and outer faces and as previously pointed out are connected together by the hinge connection 8 so that they may be positioned relatively to one another at any desired angle between and including and They are the same in thickness, and so far as configuration or shape is concerned, are rectangular.

The hinge connection 8 comprises a vertical series of tubes 31, 32, 33 and 34. Whereas but four tubes have been shown or illustrated, it is to be understood that more or less may be employed depending upon the height of the panels 6 and 7. The series of tubes is the same in height as the panels and is located between the adjacent side edges of the panels. The tubes of the hinge connection are preferably formed of steel. They are positioned in end to end and abutting relation and are rotatively connected together by pivot sleeves 35, 36 and 37. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the tubes are the same in diameter and thickness. The tube 31 is located at the lower end of the series and embodies adjacent its upper end a horizontally positioned radially extending bracket 38. The latter fits flatly against the outer face of the panel 6 immediately below and preferably in contact with the lower edge of the adjacent board 22 and is fixedly secured to such panel by way of screws 39 which extend through holes in the bracket 38 and into the panel 6. The inner or proximal end of the bracket 38 is welded to the tube 31 adjacent the upper end thereof. The tube 32 is positioned directly above the tube 31 and is rotatively connected to the latter by way of the pivot sleeve 35. The upper end of such pivot sleeve fits within. and is connected by a drive fit to, the lower end of the tube 32 and the lower end of the pivot sleeve 35 fits loosely within the upper end of the tube 31. The opposite end regions of the tube 32 are provided with horizontally positioned radially extending brackets 40. The latter fit flatly against the outer face of the panel 7 in contact with the opposed edges of adjacent boards 22 and are fixedly secured in place by way of screws 41 which extend through holes in the brackets 40 into the panel 7. The inner ends of the brackets 41 are welded to the ends of the tube 32. The tube 33 is disposed directly above the tube 32 and is rotatively connected to the latter by way of the pivot sleeve 36. The upper end of the pivot sleeve 36 fits within, and is connected by a drive fit to, the lower end of the tube 33 and the lower end of the pivot sleeve 36 fits loosely within the upper end of the tube 32. The end regions of the tube 33 are provided with horizontally positioned radially extending brackets 42. The latter fit flatly against the outer face of the panel 6 in contact with the opposed edges of the adjacent boards 22 and are secured in place by way of screws 43 which extend through holes in the brackets 42 into the panel 6. The inner ends of the brackets 42 are welded to the ends of the tube 33. The tube 34 of the hinge connection 8 is disposed directly above the tube 33 and is rotatively connected to the latter by way of the pivot sleeve 37. The upper end of the pivot sleeve 37 fits within, and is connected by a drive fit to, the lower end of the tube 34 and the lower end of the pivot sleeve 37 fits loosely within the upper end of the tube 33. The tube 34 is provided adjacent its lower end with a horizontally positioned radially extending bracket 44. The latter fits flatly against the outer face of the panel 7 in contact with the upper edge of adjacent boards 22 and is fixedly secured in place by way of screws 45 which extend through holes in the bracket 44 and into the panel 7. The inner end of the bracket 44 is welded to the tube 34 adjacent the lower endthereof. The'tube-and bracket 'arrangementof the hinge connection Sis-suchthatthe panels 6 and 7 of the inside corner forming-unit are hinged together so that they may be positioned relatively tobne another at any desired angle between andineluding QQ and 1809. The confining arrangement ofthe various laterally extend-ingjbracliets '38, 40, 42 and 44 with respect to the boards 22 as previously-- described, prevents relative vertical shifting of the hinge tubes and consequently of the panels in the assembled structure.

In order to maintain the hinge connection 8 in a permanently lubricated condition, the tubes 31, 32, 33 and 34 and the pivot. sleeves 35,. 3.6. and 37' are :filled with a heavy or viscous lubricant dfiwas-shownl in Figure 4. The hrbricant. is held the: tubes and pivot sleevesby way of .a pair of plugs 47 and 48. The latter are preferably formed of cork or other resilient material. The plug 47 is driven into the lower end of the tube 31 and the plug 48 is driven into the upper end of the tube 34.

The angle bars 9 and of the inside corner fQ-Iming Y unit are respectively associated with, and connected to,

the panels 6 and 7 and serve to prevent leakage or outflow of concrete past the hinge connection 8 in connection with use of the unit. They are preferably formed of steel and are the same in height as the two panels. The angle bar 9 consists of an inner leg 49 and an outer leg 50 at right angles to the inner leg. The inner leg 49 of the angle bar 9 fits flatly against, and is suitably fixedly secured to, the inner side edge of the panel 6. The outer leg 50 of the angle bar 9 is arranged in coplanar relation with the inner face of the panel 6, projects outwards at right angles to the inner side edge of such panel, and has its outer side edge in sliding engage- -ment with the inner side portions of the outer surfaces of the tubes of the hinge connection 8. The other angle bar, i. e., the angle bar 10, consists of an inner leg 51 and an outer leg 52 at right angles to the inner leg. The inner leg 51 of the angle bar 10 fits flatly against, and is suitably fixedly secured to, the inner side edge of the panel 7. The outer leg 52 of the angle bar 10 is arranged in coplanar relation with the inner face of the panel 7, projects outwards at right angles to the inner side edge of such panel, and has its outer side edge in sliding engagement withthe inner side portions of the outer surfaces of the tubes 31, 32, 33 and 34 of the hinge connection. The outer side edges of the outer legs 50 and 52 of the two angle bars are beveled (see Figure 2) so that they conform to the inner side portions of the outer surfaces of the tubes and hence do not result in grooves or irregularities in the inner corner portion of the bend in the concrete wall that is formed in connection with use of the unit.

When it is desired to use the inside corner forming unit, the unit is first manipulated into an upstanding position on a suitable foundation and then the panels 6 and 7 are swung relatively to one another into whatever angular position is desired. If the bend of the wall to be formed is to be a right angle bend the panels 6 and 7 are positioned so that they extend at a 90 angle as shown in Figure 3. After proper positioning of the unit the other parts of the form are manipulated into place as shown in Figure 1 and heretofore described. When the form as a whole is complete concrete in plastic or unset form is poured between the two series of edge to edge panels. After hardening of the concrete the clamping devices 18 are removed so as to release the various panels. After release of the panels the latter are removed and the projecting ends of the combined tie and spreader rods 17 are bent at right angles and then twisted so as to break the rods at the weakness points 27. In connection with removal of the inside corner forming unit it is contemplated that the panels 6 and 7 will be first swung towards one another so as to disengage them from the adjacent surfaces of the bend in the formed concrete wall. It is also contemplated that the :panels 6' and "7 after being swung towards one another will'be shifted away from the'wall se as fully to free the unit.

; The herein described inside corner forming unit due to its particular design or construction effectively and eflic'iently fulfills its intended purpose and is characterized bythe fact that it may 'be installed and removedwith facilityand also produced or fabricated at a comparatively flow cost. 7 V

Theinventionis not'to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. As a new article of manufacture, an inside corner forming unit adapted to form apart of a concrete wall form and comprising a pair of side by side upstanding panels, a hinge connection operative to'permit the panels to swing laterally and relatively to one another: int o dif ferent angular positions. and embodying a vertical series or end 'to end-tubes positioned between the innersid'e edges of the panels, provided with means between their adjoining ends whereby they are rotatably connected together, and having associated therewith horizontally positioned radially extending brackets certain of which are connected to certain of the tubes and fit against, and are secured to, the outer face of one of the panels and the others of which are connected to the other tubes and fit against, and are secured to, the outer face of the other panel, and a pair of upstanding bars associated with the inner adjacent opposed vertical side margins of the panels respectively, designed to prevent leakage of concrete past the hinge connection, and embodying longitudinally extending leg-like parts extending at right angles to and away from the inner side edges of the panels, arranged in substantially coplanar relation with the inner faces of the panels, and having their outer side edges in arcuate sliding engagement with the inner portions of the outer surfaces of the tubes, a viscous lubricant filling said vertical series of end-to-end tubes, and a sealing plug disposed in each of the uppermost and lowermost tubes respectively of the series.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an inside corner forming unit adapted to form a part of a concrete wall form and comprising a pair of side by side upstanding panels, a hinge connection operative to permit the panels to swing laterally and relatively to one another into different angular positions and embodying a vertical series of aligned coaxial abutting tubes positioned between the inner side edges of the panels, provided with internal pivot sleeves between their adjoining ends whereby they are rotatively connected together, and having associated therewith horizontally positioned radially extending brackets certain of which are connected to certain of the tubes and fit against, and are secured to, the outer face of one of the panels and the others of which are connected to the other tubes and fit against, and are secured to, the outer face of the other panel, and a pair of upstanding angle bars associated with the panels respectively, coextensive with the height thereof, designed to prevent leakage of concrete past the hinge connection, and consisting of inner legs fitting flatly against, and secured to, the inner side edges of the panels, and outer side legs extending at right angles to the inner legs and away from the panels, arranged in substantially coplanar relation with the inner faces of the panels, and having their outer side edges beveled and in sliding engagement with the inner portions of the outer surfaces of the tubes, said tubes and pivot sleeves of the hinge connections having a lubricant therein, and the uppermost and lowermost tubes being sealed at their outer ends against escape of lubricant therefrom.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an inside corner forming unit adapted to form a part of a concrete wall form and comprising a pair of side by side upstanding wooden panels, a hinge connection operative to permit the panels to swing laterally and relatively to one another into diflFerent angular positions and embodying a vertical series of tubes arranged in aligned coaxial abutting relationship and positioned between the inner side edges of the panels, pivot sleeves telescopically received within the adjacent ends of said tubes for rotatably connecting the same together, a board having horizontal upper and lower edges secured to the outside face of each panel in the vicinity of tube juncture, a pair of radially extending brackets on each tube with the brackets of each pair being positioned adjacent the opposite ends of the tube respectively, one bracket of each pair underlying one of said boards in contact with the lower edge thereof and the other bracket of each pair overlying one of said boards in contact with the upper edge thereof, the brackets on certain alternately arranged tubes fitting against and being secured to one of said panels and the brackets on the other alternately arranged tubes fitting against and being secured to the other panel, a pair of upstandingangle bars designed to prevent leakage of concrete past the hinge connection, each angle bar having an inner leg References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,032,419 Morrill July 16,- 1912 1,636,396 Urschel July 19, 1927 2,584,015 Hawes Jan, 29, 1952 2,763,048 Sullivan Sept. 18, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 152,130 Great Britain Oct. 11, 1920 273,510 Great Britain July 7, 1927 395,256 Great Britain July 13, 1933 

